Discovery of Petaluma bombs lead to arrest, FBI investigation

A Windsor police officer holds a bag of poppies as are law enforcement search a home on Quarry Street after police found an explosive device at the residence in Petaluma, California on Tuesday, October 8, 2013. (BETH SCHLANKER/ The Press Democrat)

The street through the northeast Petaluma neighborhood remained closed late Tuesday more than 24 hours after the incident began to unfold. Police and FBI officials said there was no current threat to the neighborhood but continued to search the home late Tuesday for evidence.

Ismail Moylan, 30, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a destructive device. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Sonoma County Superior Court on Wednesday morning.

Moylan, who police said also goes by the name Ismail Aljamal, initially was held in Sonoma County Jail on $250,000 bail. His bail was hiked to $1 million after police requested the increase in an attempt to keep him from being released, Lyons said.

Moylan has lived in the subdivision near Corona Road for about 15 years, said neighbors. He manages a family-run religious publishing company from his home called Sidi Muhammad Press, according to the company's website.

FBI agents joined the investigation Tuesday morning after three pipe bombs were found. Later in the day police requested additional FBI help.

"We're calling more FBI out to take a better look at the suspect's history, based upon items found inside the residence," said Lyons. "They're (FBI agents) looking at the whole incident, making sure there's nothing else to this."

FBI bomb technicians, its CSI evidence collection team, a commander and other agents were joining the effort late Tuesday afternoon, said FBI Special Agent Peter Lee, agency spokesman.

The investigation started at about 5:30 p.m. Monday when a family member called 911 to say Moylan was suicidal and could have a gun.

From outside the home, officers used a bullhorn to talk the man into coming outside. He complied and was taken into custody.

Initially Moylan was arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing prescription drugs, a misdemeanor.

Officers then found a handgun at the home and what looked like a pipe bomb. Members of the Sonoma County sheriff's bomb squad were called to the house and determined the pipe bomb, found in the garage, was real.

After obtaining a search warrant for the property, a more thorough effort began before dawn Tuesday and two more devices were found.

Between 4 and 5 a.m. the sheriff's bomb squad detonated the devices using protective equipment.

A fourth, partially built device was found hours later, hidden in a bedroom, Lyons said.

"It appears this one was smaller and while it appeared to be a pipe bomb there was no explosive material inside it," Lyons said.

Of the four devices, two held explosive powder, according to bomb squad deputies. The explosive materials found in the garage included a plastic container of what appeared to be black, explosive powder and materials to make the powder, Lyons said.

Quarry Street, which was shut down Monday night, remained closed all day Tuesday and into the evening.

They kept to themselves, didn't regularly respond to waves or "hellos," generating some puzzlement over the years due to the lack of neighborliness. Neighbors said they'd also been curious about frequent comings and going of people to the home arriving in vehicles with out-of-state license plates.

Neighbors said they were somewhat surprised at the reports of explosive devices found at the home.

Dibble said she was glad police were investigating. "I hope they get to the bottom of it."

Quarry Street is a route to nearby Corona Creek Elementary School. Police notified school officials of the incident early Tuesday so they could alert families to use another path to school, Lyons said.

Mike Silva, who lives in a nearby neighborhood, walked up Tuesday morning to learn more about what was happening. His family got an automated call from his children's school, Meadow Elementary, which is just south of Corona Creek Elementary.

"It shows you the sort of activities that can occur in our own backyards," said Silva.

The street through the northeast Petaluma neighborhood remained closed late Tuesday more than 24 hours after the incident began to unfold. Police and FBI officials said there was no current threat to the neighborhood but continued to search the home late Tuesday for evidence.

Ismail Moylan, 30, was arrested on suspicion of possessing a destructive device. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Sonoma County Superior Court on Wednesday morning.

Moylan, who police said also goes by the name Ismail Aljamal, initially was held in Sonoma County Jail on $250,000 bail. His bail was hiked to $1 million after police requested the increase in an attempt to keep him from being released, Lyons said.

Moylan has lived in the subdivision near Corona Road for about 15 years, said neighbors. He manages a family-run religious publishing company from his home called Sidi Muhammad Press, according to the company's website.

FBI agents joined the investigation Tuesday morning after three pipe bombs were found. Later in the day police requested additional FBI help.

"We're calling more FBI out to take a better look at the suspect's history, based upon items found inside the residence," said Lyons. "They're (FBI agents) looking at the whole incident, making sure there's nothing else to this."

FBI bomb technicians, its CSI evidence collection team, a commander and other agents were joining the effort late Tuesday afternoon, said FBI Special Agent Peter Lee, agency spokesman.

"We're sifting through the evidence," Lee said.

The investigation started at about 5:30 p.m. Monday when a family member called 911 to say Moylan was suicidal and could have a gun.

From outside the home, officers used a bullhorn to talk the man into coming outside. He complied and was taken into custody.

Initially Moylan was arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing prescription drugs, a misdemeanor.

Officers then found a handgun at the home and what looked like a pipe bomb. Members of the Sonoma County sheriff's bomb squad were called to the house and determined the pipe bomb, found in the garage, was real.

After obtaining a search warrant for the property, a more thorough effort began before dawn Tuesday and two more devices were found.

Between 4 and 5 a.m. the sheriff's bomb squad detonated the devices using protective equipment.

A fourth, partially built device was found hours later, hidden in a bedroom, Lyons said.

"It appears this one was smaller and while it appeared to be a pipe bomb there was no explosive material inside it," Lyons said.

Of the four devices, two held explosive powder, according to bomb squad deputies. The explosive materials found in the garage included a plastic container of what appeared to be black, explosive powder and materials to make the powder, Lyons said.

Quarry Street, which was shut down Monday night, remained closed all day Tuesday and into the evening.

Police evacuated three families from the neighborhood Monday night after discovering the initial device. Those residents were allowed back in early Tuesday.

With police activity in their front yards, some neighbors stood outside Tuesday morning, visiting and watching.

"This isn't our sweet little Quarry Street," said one woman, who declined to give her name.

Some said they were awakened by the noise of the bomb squad blowing up the devices.

Others said police officers knocked on their doors before dawn to alert them to the coming blasts, instructing them to stay away from windows.

"Somebody yelled 'fire in the hole,'" said one woman, who declined to give her name. She said she jumped at the sound of the blast, spilling her mug of hot chocolate.

Neighbor Elena Dibble said her family received a 4 a.m. knock on their door and moved to the far side of their home for the brief blasts.

"I heard three," she said, two blasts followed a bit later by a third.

The 15-year-old neighborhood is made up of two-story and single-level homes, neat yards and residents who say they are typically a friendly bunch who try to keep in touch with each other.

Moylan's family purchased the home when the subdivision was built 15 years ago, neighbors said. They believed the suspect lived with his mother and perhaps other family members.

They kept to themselves, didn't regularly respond to waves or "hellos," generating some puzzlement over the years due to the lack of neighborliness. Neighbors said they'd also been curious about frequent comings and going of people to the home arriving in vehicles with out-of-state license plates.

Neighbors said they were somewhat surprised at the reports of explosive devices found at the home.

Dibble said she was glad police were investigating. "I hope they get to the bottom of it."

Quarry Street is a route to nearby Corona Creek Elementary School. Police notified school officials of the incident early Tuesday so they could alert families to use another path to school, Lyons said.

Mike Silva, who lives in a nearby neighborhood, walked up Tuesday morning to learn more about what was happening. His family got an automated call from his children's school, Meadow Elementary, which is just south of Corona Creek Elementary.

"It shows you the sort of activities that can occur in our own backyards," said Silva.